Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a concave which has axially extending members and circumferentially extending members. With the round axially extending, members are elevated between 1/32 inch and ¼ inch, causing the crop to roll and break apart more completely helping the separation process.

Abstract: A shaker table with air flow openings and airflow to preprocess the crop before it fully enters the separating and cleaning system of the harvester through a means of corrugation platforms with air flow directed from below to break up the material into a more easily cleaned condition.

Abstract: A shaker table with air flow openings and airflow to preprocess the crop before it fully enters the separating and cleaning system of the harvester through a means of corrugation platforms with air flow directed from below to break up the material into a more easily cleaned condition.

Abstract: A harvester load control that increases the efficiency of the harvester and its operator by providing a automatic control unit that monitors minute engine RPM's caused by varying crop and transport load effects, automatically adjusting the harvester's ground speed to provide a consistent operational RPM including thrashing, separating and other conditioning services.

Abstract: A combine return grain monitor for monitoring grain flow in a return grain path and for directing an electrical signal to a meter located in the cab of the combine to provide the operator with continuous visual indication of the grain being transported in the return grain path. A wedge-shaped horn is positioned on a wall of the combine just below the opening through which the return material is dropped to the return grain cross auger. Much of the tailings material falls against the outer surface of the wedge-horn before falling on through the opening onto the return grain cross auger. The wedge-horn mechanically amplifies sound as material strikes its outer surface. A microphone, located inside the wedge-horn, picks up the amplified sound of material striking the outer surface of the wedge-horn. The microphone provides an electrical signal which is directed to a meter located in the cab of the combine.

Abstract: A rotating cylinder is used with a complementary fixed concave in a combine to separate grain from the leafy portion of the plant. The elongated cylinder is comprised of a plurality of aligned star-shaped hubs disposed in a spaced manner along its length. An elongated, linear raspbar is attached to each "point" of the aligned star-shaped hubs and extends the length of the cylinder for engaging and urging the plant against the concave and separating the grain from the plant's leafy portion. A flat elongated filler plate is disposed between each pair of adjacent raspbars for preventing the grain and crop residue from entering the hollow cylinder and for displacing the grain and crop residue rearwardly along the concave where it is discharged onto another combine grain processing and separation stage. The flat profile of the filler's plate prevents the grain and crop residue from remaining on the surface of the rotating cylinder for improved grain threshing.

Abstract: The present invention has a wrist connector connected to a conventional slat connection member. An electrically activated liner actuator which includes a linearly movable shaft is connected to the wrist connector to move the slat connection member fore or aft. The actuator is electrically controlled from an electrical control box located in the cab. Further, the actuator provides an electrical signal output responsive to the linear position of the shaft. This output signal is directed to the control box which has a meter driven by this output signal to provide a visual indication of how far the openings are opened or closed.

Abstract: A straw walker for an agricultural combine includes a linear, elongated body having a lower, generally horizontal, sieve-like panel and a pair of spaced, generally vertical sidewalls. The upper edge of each of the spaced sidewalls is provided with a plurality of generally V-shaped teeth for agitating a chaff and grain mixture and moving the chaff rearward for discharge from the rear of the combine. Various elements are attached to the upper surface of the straw walker's lower panel for improving the separation of the grain from the chaff. Each of these elements includes at least one elongated, linear blade-like member having a plurality of spaced teeth on an upper edge thereof. Increased spacing of the teeth in the blade-like member allows the chaff and grain mixture along the center of the straw walker to be displaced rearwardly faster than the mixture along the edges of the walker for improved agitation of the mixture and separation of the grain from the chaff as well as faster chaff discharge.

Abstract: An air diverter positioned on an upper, forward portion of a sieve-like cleaning shoe in an agricultural combine directs a fan-generated air flow over the cleaning shoe to facilitate separation of chaff from grain which is directed onto and passes down through the cleaning shoe. A plurality of curved, spaced fins, or slats, receive the upward flow of air and deflect the air flow generally horizontally over the cleaning shoe for directing the chaff toward the rear of the combine where it is discharged. The inter-fin spacing decreases from bottom to top of the air diverter so as to increase air flow velocity for more efficient and higher capacity chaff removal.

Abstract: A rotating cylinder having a plurality of spaced raspbars cooperates with a complementary concave in a combine to separate grain from the leafy portion of the plant. The grate-like concave is disposed below and aft of the cylinder in a closely spaced, arcuate manner. Rotation of the cylinder causes its raspbars to engage the severed portion of the plant introduced between a lower, leading edge of the concave and the cylinder, whereupon the raspbars force the grain through the grate of the concave which retains the leafy portion of the plant which is then displaced aft and upward along the concave to its aft edge. Disposed on the concave's aft edge and along its length is an obliquely angled finger grate which directs the leafy residue onto the bottom of a rotating beater for further aft displacement and removal from the concave/cylinder grain separation stage.

Abstract: A rotating solid cylinder is used with a complementary concave in a combine to separate grain from the leafy portion of the plant. The solid cylinder has a plurality of raspbars spaced about its periphery and extending the length thereof, while the fixed concave similarly has a plurality of spaced, lengthwise bars in spaced relation from the raspbars of the cylinder as it rotates. The raspbars are positioned outward from and parallel to the convex surface of the cylinder such that the cylinder assembly has a generally star-shaped cross section with the raspbars located at the tips of the star. A curved filler plate coupled to each of the raspbars substantially fills in the gap between adjacent raspbars. The increased mass and inertia of the solid cylinder requires less power to maintain its rotation and allows the cylinder to be rotated more slowly resulting in less damage to the grain.